Identification
of microRNAs in Response to Combined Heat-Drought Stress in Haloxylon
ammodendron

doi:10.11983/CBB25164

Abstract

Abstract: High-temperature and drought co-stress are critical environmental factors affecting the survival of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings. To investigate the molecular functions of H. ammodendron microRNAs (Ha-miRNAs) in response to combined high-temperature and drought stress, this study employed small RNA sequencing to identify five Ha-miRNAs differentially expressed under co-stress conditions. Among them, Ha-miR319b, Ha-miR166a, and Ha-miR171a were upregulated, while Ha-miR157a and Ha-miR7534 were downregulated. Predictive analysis revealed that Ha-miR7534 has no target genes, while the other four Ha-miRNAs target 30 non-biological stress response genes encoding key functional proteins such as TCP transcription factors and pyruvate dehydrogenase. qRT-PCR validation confirmed a significant negative regulatory relationship between these Ha-miRNAs and their target genes. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the four Ha-miRNAs synergistically enhance the cross-tolerance adaptation of H. ammodendron by regulating secondary metabolic pathways such as cellular aerobic metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as stress memory-related pathways. This study provides novel insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying desert plant stress adaptation and offers potential molecular targets for stress-resistant crop breeding.

Key words: Haloxylon ammodendron, heat, drought, cross-stress, microRNA

Yameng Wang, Xu Wang, Ziyan Ma, Bo Wang.

Identification of microRNAs in Response to Combined Heat-Drought Stress in Haloxylon ammodendron [J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, DOI: 10.11983/CBB25164.

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URL: https://www.chinbullbotany.com/EN/10.11983/CBB25164

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Identification of microRNAs in Response to Combined Heat-Drought Stress in Haloxylon ammodendron

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